Air erectable greeting card

ABSTRACT

The disclosed novelty greeting card comprises a relatively stiff paper base sheet to which is secured a collapsible, substantially three dimensional caricature, also of paper. The caricature is provided with multiple folds such that it may assume a collapsed state, flat against the base sheet. Blowing air into the body of the caricature through a hole in the base sheet opens the folds, causing the caricature to assume a substantially erect stance. Evacuation of air returns the caricature to its collapsed state for insertion into an envelope.

United States Patent."

inventors Lowell F. Hess Southport;

Christopher S. Crowell, New Canaan, both 0i, Conn.

Appl. No. 873,782

Filed Nov. 4, i969 Patented June 29, 1971 Assignee Chris Crowcll & Company, Inc.

North Darien, Conn.

AIR ERECTABLE GREETING CARD 12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl so/124.1, 40/126, 46/44, 248/460 Int. Cl G09f 1/00 Field of Search 46/35, 44;

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,374 6/1952 Ditzler et a1. 40/126A 2,892,276 6/1959 Nelson 40/126 A 3,090,144 5/1963 Malamude 40/1 24.] 3,091,877 6/1963 Luchsinger... 40/1241 3,191,328 6/1965 Lohnes 40/124] Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenccsla0 J. Contreras Attorney-Blair, Cesari & St. Onge ABSTRACT: The disclosed novelty greeting card comprises a relatively stiff paper base sheet to which is secured a collapsible, substantially three dimensional caricature, also of paper. The caricature is provided with multiple folds such that it may assume a collapsed state, flat against the base sheet. Blowing air into the body of the caricature through a hole in the base sheet opens the folds, causing the caricature to assume a substantially erect stance. Evacuation of air returns the caricature to its collapsed state for insertion into an envelope.

PATENTEUJUNQQIQH 3589,04?

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTORS Lowell if Hess I C/zrzlszopher S. Crowol A TTURI Y6 PATENTED JUH29 197a SHEET 2 BF 3 PATENTEU JUNZS I97i SHEET 3 BF 3 AIR ERECTABLE GREETING CARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, inflatable novelty devices have typically employed balloons or the like, made of an elastic material, as the inflatable element. Upon inflation of the balloon, it assumes a three dimensional shape in caricature of some object, animal, person, etc. Inflatable novelty devices of this type have a disadvantage in that, due to the elasticity of the material forming the inflatable element, air is forced out unless the inlet is pinched off, tied off, or valved. Also, balloon-type, inflatable elements are easily ruptured and sometimes difficult to inflate.

Moreover, due to the proliferation of novelty devices having a balloon-type inflatable element, their appeal is not as strong as it once was.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a truly unique inflatable novelty device, suitable for use as greeting cards, promotional items, etc., formed wholly of an inelastic material, such as paper.

An additional object of the invention is to provide the novelty device of the above character which includes a multiply folded paper body which can be inflated to an erect, three dimensional shape in caricature of an object, animal, person, etc., and, due to the relative rigidity of the paper, the body remains in this condition without the necessity for blockage of the air inlet.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novelty device of the above character wherein the inflated body may be readily collapsed to a folded down, flat condition by the withdrawal of air from the interior thereof.

Yet another object is to provide a novelty device of the above character wherein the body may be readily inflated and collapsed by manually blowing air into and sucking air therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided a unique inflatable novelty device ideally suitable for use as a greeting card, promotional item, etc. The device is preferably constructed wholly of a relatively inelastic material, such as paper. The device includes a relatively stiff paper base sheet to which is secured a figure, multiply folded such that it can assume a collapsed state lying flat against the base sheet. At least a portion of the figure forms an air chamber communicating with aport hole formed in the base sheet.

By pressing one's lips against the bottom surface of the base sheet around the port hole and blowing air through, the folds of the paper figure are forced open. The figure thus assumes an erect, three dimensional state, in which state it remains even after the mouth is moved from about the port hole. To collapse the figure to the flat position, folded down against the surface of the base sheet, air is merely sucked from the figure. The resulting negative pressure causes the figure to fold on itself as it assumes the collapsed state. In this state, it can readily be accommodated in an envelope for mailing.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding in the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention adapted as a greeting card and wherein the inflatable figure is in its collapsed state for insertion in an envelope;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the novelty greeting card of FIG. I in a partially erected state;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the novelty greeting card of FIG. I in its fully inflated, erect state;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 5 ad 6 are plan views of the paper cutouts used in forming the erectable figure shown in .FIGS. 1 through 4.

Similar reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is that of a novelty greeting card, however, it is understood that the invention has other applications in the areas of promotion, sales, amusement, etc. As seen in FIG. 1, a novelty greeting card, generally indicated at I0, includes a relatively stiff base sheet 12 formed of, for example, paper card stock. Secured to the base sheet 12, such as by glue, is an erectable figure, generally indicated at 14, which is shown in FIG. I in its collapsed state lying flat against the base sheet such that the greeting card 10 may be inserted in an envelope 16.

Once removed from the envelope 16, the figure 14 is inflated to create an erect, three dimensional figure as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, which, in the disclosed embodiment, is a caricature of a lion. It will be appreciated that there is no limit to the number of different figure that can be formed. Inflation of the figure 14 is accomplished by placing the lips against the under surface of the base sheet 12 surrounding a port hole 18 which registers with a hole 19 formed in the body portion 20 of the figure 14; the body portion serving as an air chamber (FIG. 4). The base sheet 12 serves as means for grasping the greeting card 10 during inflation so that the figures do not impede the unfolding and erection of the figure 14.

As an important feature of the invention, the erectable figure 14 is formed preferably from medium weight paper stock. The figure is provided with suitable folds such that the body portion 20, together with the various other physical features of the caricature, may be collapsed to a folded down condition lying substantially flat against the surface of the base sheet 12. Suitable paper cutouts for forming the lion caricature shown in FIG. 3 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The paper cutout of FIG. 5 is folded and glued together to form the body portion 20 of the lion caricature and also the features of the head 22, front legs 23 and 24, tail 25 and hind legs 26 and 27.

The paper cutout of FIG. 6 is used to form the muzzle 30 of the lion caricature shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. It is seen from FIG. 4 that the muzzle 30, once formed, is glued to the head 22 about the triangular cutout 31 communicating with the interior of the body 20. Thus, in the disclosed embodiment the muzzle 30 collapses and inflates with the body 20.

As seen in FIG. 5, the paper cutout of the body of the lion caricature includes a base panel 32 in which is formed the port 19. The base panel 32 isjoined to a front panel assembly along a fold line 34. It will be appreciated that in forming the paper cutout, score lines are laid out such that the fold lines may be conveniently formed. The front panel assembly includes a lower front panel 33 joined to an upper front panel 35 along a fold line 36. The head 22 is joined to the upper front panel 35 along the fold line 37. A pair of glue tabs 38 are joined to the lower portion of the head along fold lines 39. The hind legs 26 and 27 are joined to the lower front panel along fold lines 40, while glue tabs 42 are joined to the hind legs along fold lines 43.

The base panel 32 isjoined to a back panel assembly along a fold line 45. The back panel assembly includes an upper back panel 46 joined to a lower back panel 44 along fold line 47. The back panels 44 and 46 are joined to a pair of side panel assemblies along fold lines 48. Each side panel assembly is di vided into an upper rear side panel 50 and an upper forward side panel 52 joined together along a fold line 51. Upper rear side panel 50 isjoined to a lower rear side panel 54 along fold line 55; the latter also being joined to lower back panel 44 along a section of fold line 48. The upper forward side panel 52 is joined to a lower forward side panel 58 along fold line 59. The lower side panels 54 and 58 are each joined to a bottom side panel 60 along fold lines 61 and 62. It will be noted that the fold lines 51,55, 59, 61 and 62 all meet at a common point 63 on each side panel assembly.

Still referring to FIG. 5, a glue tab 65 is joined to the end of upper back panel 46 along fold line 66. A glue tab 67 is joined to each upper forward side panel 52 along fold line 68, while a glue tab 70 is joined to each of the forward side panels 52 and 58 along a fold line 71. A glue tab 73 is joined to each bottom side panel 60 along a fold line 74. The front legs 23 and 24 of the lion caricature are formed as extensions of the upper forward side panels 52.

Finally, the tail 26 is joined to the bottom panel 32 along fold line 78. Cuts 79 and 80 in the bottom panel 32 permit the tail 25 to be folded on fold line 78 such that it emerges from the rear of the lion caricature upon formation of the cutout of FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 6, prior to the formation of the line caricature from the paper cutout of FIG. 5, the muzzle cutout of FIG. 6 is formed and glued to the head 22 surrounding the triangular cutout 31. Once formed from the cutout of FIG. 6, the muzzle has a triangular cross section with sloping side panels 82, 84 and a bottom panel 86. These panels are folded on fold lines 83 and 85, with a glue tab 87 joined to bottom panel 86 along fold line 88 glued to side panel 82 adjacent its left edge as seen in FIG. 6. Glue tabs 89,joined to each muzzle cutout panel along a continuous fold line 90, are glued to the backside of the head 22 along each side of the triangular cutout 31. The other end of the muzzle is closed off by an end panel 92 joined to side panel 82 along fold line 93. A glue tab 94, joined to end panel 92 along fold line 95 is glued to side panel 84, while glue tab 96 joined to bottom panel 86 along fold line 97 is glued to the end panel 24 closing off the forward end of the muzzle.

The fold lines 100, 101 and 102 in the bottom panel 86, fold line 103 in side panel 84, and fold lines 104 and 105 in end panel 92 enable the muzzle, once glued to the head 22 of the line caricature to inflate and collapse into a folded down con dition lying flat against the caricature head.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, in combination, the base panel 32 is glued to the base sheet 12 with the port 19 registering with the port 18 in base sheet 12; after the tail 26 has been folded on fold line 78 such that it emerges from the rear of the caricature. The front and back panel assemblies are folded upwardly on fold lines 34 and 45, and the side panel assemblies are folded toward the front panel assembly on fold lines 48. Glue tabs 73 of each side panel assembly are glued to the bottom panel 32. The glue tabs 67 and 70 are glued to the front panel assembly. Glue tabs 38 are glued to each side panel as sembly. Glue tab 65 is glued to the head 22 above the triangular cutout 31. Finally, glue tabs 42 are glued to the upper surface of the base sheet 12 to complete the formation of the line caricature.

The locations of the various glue tabs in their glued down positions are shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

It is seen that in the folded down condition, the side panels fold inwardly along their fold lines 51, 55, 59, 61 and 62, converging the front and back panel assemblies toward each other. the front panel assembly folds on fold line 36 to enable the evacuated body of the lion caricature to fold down toward and flat against the surface of the base sheet 12.

When air is blown into the body of the lion caricature through registered ports 18 and 19, the side panel assemblies open up, as do the lower and upper front panels 33 and 35 on fold line 36. It will be noted that as the side panel assemblies open, the front legs 23 and 24 swing forward, and with the raising of the lower front panel 33, the paws of the hind legs also assume an upright position.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made in the shape of and size of the upper cutout without departing from the invention. There are a number of figures which can be formed such as buildings, vehicles, aircraft, etc., as well as animals and the like. Variations in the manner of formation of the figure and the locations of the fold lines and glue tabs will readily occur to those in the art. The important consideration is to form the paper cutouts such that at least a portion of the body of the figure upon formation provides a substantially airtight, collapsible air chamber having an air port therein communicating with the port 18 formed in the base sheet 12. It is seen from the disclosed embodiment of the invention that not all of the parts of the figure need be inflatable in order to be erected. For example, the legs and head as shown are not inflated, but rather comprised extensions of panels which form sections of the inflatable chamber. It is seen that due to movement of the air chamber panels during inflation, the uninflated parts of the figure are also erected.

While the uninflated features of the figure in the illustrated embodiment are not three dimensional, it will be appreciated that three dimensional features of a figure may be erected if the panels forming them are extensions of panels making up the walls of the inflatable air chamber. In other words, the air chamber need not be constituted by the entire body of the erectable figure. Nor is base sheet 12 necessarily an essential part of the construction and may be dispensed with in some applications. In such designs a drinking straw may be inserted into the body inflation port and the figure erected by blowing through the straw.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A novelty article comprising, in combination:

A. a base sheet formed of a relatively stiff material, said base sheet having 1. means forming a port hole therethrough; and

B. a figure formed of an inelastic material, said figure secured to said base sheet and formed of 1. panel assemblies of which at least portions thereof provide an air chamber communicating with said base sheet port hole,

a. said panel assemblies capable of being multiply folded down such that said figure may assume a substantially collapsed condition lying flat against said base sheet,

C. whereby, upon blowing air through said base sheet port hole into said chamber, at least one of said panel assemblies substantially unfolds, causing erection of said figure to a stable upright stance.

The article defined in claim 1, wherein:

said figure is formed from a paper cutout.

The article defined in claim 2, wherein:

. said base sheet is formed from paper card stock.

4. The article defined in claim 2, wherein said figure is formed of at least three panel assemblies,

1. at least two of said panel assemblies having one or more fold lines formed therein for enabling said figure to be erected to said stable upright stance with at least a portion of said figure assuming a three dimensional characteristic and folded down to said collapsed condition by means of air pressure.

5. The article defined in claim 4, wherein said figure further includes:

1. panel extensions constituting features of said figure.

a. said panel extensions being erected incident to inflation of said air chamber.

6. The article defined in claim 5, wherein said panel extensions:

l constitute two dimensional features of said figure.

7. The article defined in claim 4, wherein:

1. said panel assemblies include a series of glue tabs for securing said assemblies together pursuant to the formation of said figure.

8. The article defined in claim 2, wherein said figure is formed of at least bottom, front, back, and two side panel assemblies joined together by fold lines and glue tabs to provide said air chamber.

I. said bottom panel assembly being glued to said base sheet and having a port hole in registry with said base sheet port hole.

9. The article defined in claim 2 wherein said figure is formed having:

I. a body portion containing said air chamber, and

2. a three dimensional, collapsible body extension containing an auxiliary air chamber communicating with said body portion air chamber,

a said body extension being erected in concert with the erection of said body portion.

10. The article defined in claim 1, which further includes:

1. a mailing envelope accepting said base sheet and figure while in said collapsed condition.

11. A novelty article of manufacture comprising, in combination:

A. a plurality of panel assemblies,

1. said panel assemblies being formed of an inelastic material;

B. interconnecting means included with said panel assemblies for interconnecting them to form a three-dimensional figure;

I. at least portions of said panel assemblies enclosing an air chamber;

C. predetermined multiple fold lines formed in at least one of said panel assemblies enabling said figure to be folded down into a substantially flat, collapsed condition; and

D. means forming a port hole communicating with said air chamber,

E. whereby, upon blowing air through said port hole into said air chamber, said folded panel assembly unfolds to cause erection of said figure to a stable, upright stance in three-dimensional form.

12. The novelty article defined in claim 11, wherein said panel assemblies are formed of paper. 

1. A novelty article comprising, in combination: A. a base sheet formed of a relatively stiff material, said base sheet having
 1. means forming a port hole therethrough; and B. a figure formed of an inelastic material, said figure secured to said base sheet and formed of
 1. panel assemblies of which at least portions thereof provide an air chamber communicating with said base sheet port hole, a. said panel assemblies capable of being multiply folded down such that said figure may assume a substantially cOllapsed condition lying flat against said base sheet, C. whereby, upon blowing air through said base sheet port hole into said chamber, at least one of said panel assemblies substantially unfolds, causing erection of said figure to a stable upright stance.
 2. The article defined in claim 1, wherein:
 2. a three dimensional, collapsible body extension containing an auxiliary air chamber communicating with said body portion air chamber, a. said body extension being erected in concert with the erection of said body portion.
 3. The article defined in claim 2, wherein:
 4. The article defined in claim 2, wherein said figure is formed of at least three panel assemblies,
 5. The article defined in claim 4, wherein said figure further includes:
 6. The article defined in claim 5, wherein said panel extensions:
 7. The article defined in claim 4, wherein:
 8. The article defined in claim 2, wherein said figure is formed of at least bottom, front, back, and two side panel assemblies joined together by fold lines and glue tabs to provide said air chamber.
 9. The article defined in claim 2 wherein said figure is formed having:
 10. The article defined in claim 1, which further includes:
 11. A novelty article of manufacture comprising, in combination: A. a plurality of panel assemblies,
 12. The novelty article defined in claim 11, wherein said panel assemblies are formed of paper. 